As a text for his priesthood session remarks, President Thomas S. Monson cited Doctrine and Covenants 107:99: "Wherefore now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence."

President Thomas S. Monson

The words "apply to all of us, whether bearers of the Aaronic Priesthood or the Melchizedek Priesthood," said President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency.

"For example, when I was ordained a deacon, our bishopric stressed the sacred responsibility which was ours to pass the sacrament. Emphasized were proper dress, a dignified bearing and the importance of being clean 'inside and out.' "

He and his fellow deacons were taught to assist a particular brother, Louis, who had a palsied condition, so he could partake of the sacrament, President Monson related. He said that in assisting Louis, he felt that he "was on holy ground. And indeed I was. The privilege to pass the sacrament to Louis made better deacons of us all."

Asking if every ordained teacher is given the assignment to home teach, President Monson declared, "What an opportunity to prepare for a mission. What a privilege to learn the discipline of duty. A boy will automatically turn from concern for self when he is assigned to 'watch over' others.

"And what of the priests? These young men have the opportunity to bless the sacrament, to continue their home teaching duties and to participate in the sacred ordinance of baptism."

He told of a priest he knew 50 years ago as a bishop presiding over the priests quorum. "Robert stuttered and stammered, void of control," he related. "Never did he fulfill an assignment; never would he look another in the eye; always would he gaze downward."

Through unusual circumstances, Robert accepted an assignment to perform baptisms. Both he and Bishop Monson prayed that he would be made equal to the task. Baptizing three or four children, he never stammered once. Later, in the dressing room, when Bishop Monson congratulated Robert, he stammered his reply of gratitude.

"To each of you this evening, I testify that when Robert acted in the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood, he spoke with power, with conviction and with heavenly help."

President Monson exhorted priesthood brethren to "look to the lighthouse of the Lord" for peace and safety. He named three signals emitted by this lighthouse: "Prayer provides peace; faith precedes the miracle; honesty is the best policy."

Expressing conviction that the Church is led by a prophet of almighty God, President Monson closed by reading a letter from a man reflecting his love for President Gordon B. Hinckley.

The man, Clark Cederlof, recalled that he was hauling hay for his livestock on the day President Hinckley was sustained at general conference. Brother Cederlof was listening to the conference session on his truck radio as he was in the barn throwing down bales of hay from the bed of the truck. To President Monson, he wrote: "When you called for the brethren of the priesthood, 'wherever you might be,' to prepare to sustain the prophet, I wondered if you meant me. I wondered if the Lord would be offended because I was sweaty and covered with dust. But I took you at your word and climbed down from the truck."

He said he would never forget standing with his arm to the square to sustain President HInckley, tears running down his face, and added that he has had no experience "more spiritual or tender or memorable than that morning in the barn with only the cows and a roan horse looking on."